Ball sizing machine with gravity return

ABSTRACT

A ball sizing machine including a mounting for a tubular workpiece, a ram for projecting a ball from a starting position through the tubular workpiece, a ramp for receiving the ball after it is projected through the workpiece and permitting gravity return of the ball towards its starting position with a mechanism for receiving the ball from the ramp and relocating it at its starting position. A preferred embodiment including switches for controlling the machine during a complete operating cycle once the ball is located at its starting position.

United States Patent Gresham et al.

[54] BALL SIZING MACHINE WITH GRAVITY RETURN [72] Inventors: Cliljgrd IQrq ham, liflngka Lorin A. Robinson, Plainfield, both of m.

[73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, 111.

[22] Filed: July 10, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 53,857

[52] US. Cl ..72/75, 72/446 [51] Int. Cl. ..B2lb B2lj 13/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..72/75, 446, 293; 113/120 R, 113/116 UT; 29/905, 90

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,587,269 6/1971 Seccombe..72/370 3,196,653 7/1965 Gazan ..72/75 1,095,265 5/1914 Brinkman..72/75 604,021 5/1898 Clarke ..72/75 [ls] 3,691,805 51 Sept. 19,1972

3,267,551 8/ 1966 Judge ..29/90 1,537,207 5/1925Wikstrom......................72/75 2,943,667 7/1960 Ewing et al...72/26 3,456,466 7/1969 Henry ..72/26 Primary Examiner-Charles W.Lanham Assistant Examiner-Michael J. Keenan Attorney-Fryer, Tjensvold,Feix, Phillips & Lempio [57] ABSTRACT A ball sizing machine including amounting for a tubular workpiece, a ram for projecting a ball from astarting position through the tubular workpiece, a ramp for receivingthe ball after it is projected through the workpiece and permittinggravity return of the ball towards its starting position with amechanism for receiving the ball from the ramp and relocating it at itsstarting position. A preferred embodiment including switches forcontrolling the machine during a complete operating cycle once the ballis located at its starting position.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 19 m2 SHEEI 1 OF 2 INVENTORSCLIFFORD L. GRESHAM LORIN A. ROBINSON BALL SIZING MACHINE WITH GRAVITYRETURN The present invention relates to ball sizing machines of the typewherein a ball is projected or driven through a slightly undersized borein a workpiece as a step in finishing the surface of the workpiece bore.

The use of a precision ground or formed ball for sizing tubularworkpieces is known in the prior art. However, the present inventionrelates to a relatively simple machine suitable for such ball sizingoperations. The machine is readily adaptable to receive workpieces ofvarying sizes. To further facilitate the sizing of relatively largenumbers of tubular workpieces, the machine is particularly contemplatedas including switches for automatically controlling each sizingoperation once the ball is located at its starting position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ballsizing machine providing one or more of the capabilities discussedabove.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a machine withramp means for permitting return of the ball by gravity toward itsstarting position and additional means for relocating the ball at itsstarting position to commence a new sizing operation.

It is a further object to provide switches for controlling the machineduring an operating cycle when the ball is in its starting position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be made apparent fromthe following description having reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the presentball sizing machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the ball sizing machine of FIG. 1and shows the complete circuit for the ball during each sizingoperation; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken along section lines III-III of FIG. 2.

Having particular reference to FIG. I, a ball sizing machine constructedaccording to the present invention includes a suitable base assembly orframe 10. A tubular workpiece shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at 12 and having abore 13 is held in place on the machine by means including an adjustableV-block assembly indicated at I4 for supporting a central portion of theworkpiece and a tailstock fixture I6 secured to the frame by a bracketI7.

A head assembly 18 is movably mounted on the frame I at one end of theworkpiece by means of a gear and rack combination indicated at l9 whichis operable by a wheel 20 to permit adaptation of the machine toworkpieces of different lengths.

Means for supporting a ball 21 at a starting position in alignment withthe one end of the workpiece bore is provided on the head assembly by adished out plate 22. The one end of the workpiece adjacent the headassembly is partially broken away to more clearly show construction ofthe machine.

For projecting or driving the ball from its starting position throughthe workpiece, a hydraulic jack 23 is secured to the frame I0 by meansof a bracket 24. Its ram or rod 26 is adjacent the starting position forthe ball and in axial alignment with the workpiece bore. As seen in FIG.3, the head assembly is formed with an opening 27 permitting the ram toengage the ball 21 and project it through the workpiece.

A ramp 28 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is arranged on the frame 10 by means ofmounts 29 with a relatively higher end 31 of the ramp being secured tothe tailstock 16 for receiving the ball as it is driven out of theworkpiece bore. The ramp turns and inclines downwardly to permit returnof the ball by gravity toward its starting position. The ball is shownin several positions indicated at 21 in its path along the ramp.

A return mechanism 32 for receiving the ball from the ramp andrelocating it at its starting position to commence a new sizingoperation may be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The mechanism includes agate 33 pivoted at 34 to the head assembly 18. An extension 36 also onthe head assembly slidably engages the lower end 37 of the ramp toreceive the ball and guide in onto the gate 33 in its lowered positionas shown in FIG. 3. The slidable engagement between the extension 36 andramp end 37 permits continued communication for the ball between theramp and the return mechanism as the head assembly position is adjustedon the frame by the wheel 20 and gear and rack combination 19.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, a hydraulic jack 38 is also arrangedon the return mechanism 32 to extend and raise the gate 33 once the ballreturns to the gate from the ramp to permit the ball to roll into itsstarting position on the plate 22. Hydraulic circuitry (not otherwiseshown) for the jack 38 includes a manual start switch 39 for actuatingthe jack and raising the gate. Preferably, the circuitry includesrelease means (not shown) which permits the jack to retract and returnthe gate to its lowered position shown in FIG. 3 after the gate israised and the ball rolls onto the plate 22.

In operation, a ball is located at its starting position on the plate 22for example by the return mechanism 32. The ram 26 is then extended todrive the ball through a workpiece supported on the V-block l4 andtailstock 16. As the ball exits through the other end of the workpieceand the tailstock. it is received by the ramp and returned to the gate33 of the return mechanism 32 ready to commence a new sizing operationonce the sized workpiece is replaced by another workpiece.

To permit automatic operation of the ram or jack 23 during each sizingoperation, its hydraulic circuitry (not otherwise shown) includes firstswitch means for actuating the jack to extend its ram 26 and drive theball through the workpiece. Second switch means reverse the jack afterthe ball passes through the workpiece and onto the ramp. Third switchmeans deactuate the jack when its ram is returned to an appropriateposition adjacent the head assembly for commencing a new sizingoperation. Components of these various switch means are described belowin preferred locations on the machine.

The first switch means includes an actuating plunger 41 slidablycentered in the plate 22. The plunger is depressed by the ball beinglocated in its starting position on the plate 22, for example by thereturn mechanism 32, and trips a solenoid switch 42 which is associatedwith the hydraulic circuitry for actuatingthe cylinder 23 and causingextension of its ram 26.

The second switch means includes a lever 43 pivotally arranged on thetailstock. As the ball passes out of the workpiece, it pivots the lever43 which trips a solenoid switch 44 effective to reverse the cylinder 23and retract its rams 26.

The third switch means includes a limit switch 46 mounted on the headassembly 18 with a trip lever 47 arranged for engagement with theflanged head of the ram 26. According ythe limit switch, which iseflective to deactuate the cylinder, is tripped by engagement of the ramhead with the lever 47 with the ram in an appropriate position adjacentthe head assembly to commence a new operation regardless of the adjustedposition of the head assembly on the frame.

The present invention, an embodiment of which is described above,provides a simple ball sin'ng machine which is readily adaptable forautomation as described above. A particular feature is the ramppermitting gravity return of the ball with the workpiece in a generallyhorizontal position on the frame.

To illustrate numerous modifications which are possible for the aboveembodiment, it is obvious that the return mechanism could besubstantially simplified by slightly tilting the workpiece upwardlytoward the return means arranged on the frame for receiving the gravityreturned ball and relocating it at the starting position prior tocommencing new sizing operation,

first switch means for actuating the ram means in one direction toproject the ball through the workpiece when the ball is in its startingposition,

second switch means for reversing the ram means when the ball isprojected through and out of the workpiece by the ram means, and

third switch means for deactuating the ram means when it is returned toits original position for commencing a new sizing operation,

the second switch means being responsive to the ball being projectedthrough and out of the workpiece by the ram means, the third switchmeans including a limit switch for sensing return of the ram means toits original position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the first switch tailstock so thatthe ramp could provide a downwardly 20 means includes means responsiveto situation of the inclined path for the ball all the way to itsstarting pcsition on the plate 22. With such an arrangement, the returnmechanism need provide only a guide for assuring relocation of the ballat its starting position on the plate 22.

Other features of the above embodiment could similarly be modified,therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is: l. A ball sizing machine comprising a frame, 7 meansmounted on the frame for securing a tubular workpiece in generallyhorizontal alignment,

support means for supporting a sizing ball of selected diameter in astarting position at one end of the workpiece,

ram means arranged on the frame for projecting the sizing ball throughthe workpiece,

ramp means carried by the frame for receiving the sizing ball toward itsstarting position, and

ball in its starn'ng position.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the last said means is a switcharranged at the starting position for the ball.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the ram means is fil zg r tion ofclaim 1 wherein the support means, the return means and the limit switchof the third switch means are portions of a head assembly which ismovably mounted on the frame for adaptation to workpieces of varyinglengths.

6. The ball sizing machine of claim 5 wherein the support means includesa tailstock support arranged on the frame for receiving the other end ofthe workpiece, and an additional support member so that the workpiecemay be arranged in a generally horizontal position, the second switchmeans including a switch lever mounted on the tailstock support foralignment with the tubular workpiece.

I i t i i

1. A ball sizing machine comprising a frame, means mounted on the framefor securing a tubular workpiece in generally horizontal alignment,support means for supporting a sizing ball of selected diameter in astarting position at one end of the workpiece, ram means arranged on theframe for projecting the sizing ball through the workpiece, ramp meanscarried by the frame for receiving the sizing ball toward its startingposition, and return means arranged on the frame for receiving thegravity returned ball and relocating it at the starting position priorto commencing new sizing operation, first switch means for actuating theram means in one direction to project the ball through the workpiecewhen the ball is in its starting position, second switch means forreversing the ram means when the ball is projected through and out ofthe workpiece by the ram means, and third switch means for deactuatingthe ram means when it is returned to its original position forcommencing a new sizing operation, the second switch means beingresponsive to the ball being projected through and out of the workpieceby the ram means, the third switch means including a limit switch forsensing return of the ram means to its original position.
 2. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein the first switch means includes meansresponsive to situation of the ball in its starting position.
 3. Theinvention of claim 2 wherein the last said means is a switch arranged atthe starting position for the ball.
 4. The invention of claim 2 whereinthe ram means is a hydraulic jack.
 5. The invention of claim 1 whereinthe support means, the return means and the limit switch of the thirdswitch means are portions of a head assembly which is movably mounted onthe frame for adaptation to workpieces of varying lengths.
 6. The ballsizing machine of claim 5 wherein the support means includes a tailstocksupport arranged on the frame for receiving the other end of theworkpiece, and an additional support member so that the workpiece may bearranged in a generally horizontal position, the second switch meansincluding a switch lever mounted on the tailstock support for alignmentwith the tubular workpiece.